Combined mail-bag catcher and deliverer.



Y J. B. DIEFBNDERFER.

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' APPLIOATIOI FILED lull. 11. 1909.

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J. B. DIEPBNDERFER.

GOMBINED MAIL BAG GATGHEB. AND DELIVERER. nrucuxon FILED MAR. 11, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB E. DIEFENDERFER, OF WILLIAMSFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR- OF ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN S. GOURLEY AND ONE-FOURTH TO I-IJALMER F. ELVING, OF WILLIAMSFIELD,

ILLINOIS.

COMBINED MAIL-BAG GATCHER AND DELIVERER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB E. DIEFEN- 1 'DERFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at ii illiamsfield, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Combined Mail-Bag Catcher and Deliverer, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices which are located at the side of a railway track and which are provided. with means whereby a mail pouch, or sack is suspended in such position that it will be automatically caught by a crane or analogous device projecting from the doorway of a mail car on a passing train; and further provided with means wliiereby a mail pouch cast into a compartment or receptacle .l'orming a part of the device will be caught thereby and delivered to an inclosed receptacle above which said device is supported It is not my purpose to state anything derogatory concerning prior devices of like nature, but it is a fact, however, that a great many of the devices now employed for catching and delivering mail pouches are ineffective. Especially will the devices which are purposed to receive the pouches from the mail-car fail to act, the result being that the pouches fre quently fall into puddles of mud, under platforms etc., to their great damage, and not infrequently are drawn beneaththe wheels of the train and their contents destroyed. Again, the catching and delivering devices are such that the pouches are torn. and otherwise mutilated and the contents scattered.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a reciprocatory device of the charac ter described which is adapted for actuation by the pouch or bag delivered thereto by the moving train, and which will with certainty and safety deliver one pouch to the passing car and simultan eously receive another therefrom.

A further object is to provide improved means for gradually checking or retarding the part-rotatmy movement of the semi-cylindrical drum or receiver and its attached parts.

A still further object is to provide improved means for locking said drum as hereinafter described.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the station agent or other operator Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1909.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Serial No. 482,838.

may quickly and easily manipulate the drum to set it in any desired position.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out. i In the accompanying drawings all my improvements are shown in the best manner now known to me; obviously, however, some of these ii'nproveinents may be used without the others and in machines differing in construction and organization from the one shown and described. It will be manifest also that various unessential changes may be made in the details of construction without departing materially from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation, the receiving and delivering devices shown as in. position for operation for receiving a pouch from and delivering another to a passing car, its direction of movement being indicated by the arrows; Fig. 1, a plan, the parts in the same relative positions as at Fi 1; Fig. 1, an elevation, showing the open ends of the receiving compartments, the re ceiver being shown in central or inoperative position, or as having been given a part rotation as hereinafter described; Fig. 2, a top plan, partly broken a\\'ay, the parts in the same relative positions as at Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an end elevation, the parts in the same relative positions as at Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a vertical, central section, the casings removed, and the parts .in the same relative positions as at Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an enlarged detail, a plan of the latch mechanism; Fig. 6, a transverse section in the line 6-6 in Fig. 5 Fig. 7, an edge View of the pouch securing and releasing mechanism Fig. 8, an elevation of the same; Fig. 9, an elevation of the air-compressor and a fragment of the crankstandard; and Fig. 10, a vertical, central longitudinal section in Fig 9.

Like numerals refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

2, 2 represent railway rails fixed on ties in the ordinary manner, two or more of the ties, or a suitable platform indicated by 3, being enlarged and elongated, and serving as supports for the base or frame 4 which is preferably inclosed or incased in a suitable manner, see dot lines 5 at Fig. 1 The frame, it will be evident, may be of any suitable and preferred construction. I have shown it as comprising a skeleton plate 6 apertured for the reception of a crank-standard or shaft 7 presently described. An up- 1 per plate 8 which, with the exception of a j which is provided with a slot 49 is pivoted to guideway 9 for a spring-latch hereinafter described, is a duplicate of the plate 6, is supported thereabove by suitable braces 10.

The casing 5 is preferably fixed to the outer edges of the plates 6 and 8 and is provided with a door, not shown.

The semi-drum 11 which constitutes the pouch or bag receiver is fixed by a key 12 on the standard 7 and surmounts the upper frame plate 8. It comprises upper and lower duplicate confronting faced skeleton plates 13 and 1.4 respectively, provided with flanges 15, 16 respectively. Each plate comprises also a disk-like portion 17 17' respec tively, and at its rear portion each is incurved as shown at 24. The sides 18, 19 of casings which. divide the semi-drum into two compartments 20, 21 are fixed t0 the aforesaid flanges and take against the disks 17, 17*. Cleats 22 secure the front edges of the sides against displacement. The rim or periphery 42, 43, provided with pendent brackets 44, 45 respectively, having slots 46, 46 respectively. A lever 47, the disk portion 48 of each of said brackets. Fixed on the outer edges of the receiver are brackets 50, 51, similar in all respects to the brackets 44, 45, the levers being designated by the numerals 56, 57.

Each mail car carries a crane or forked arm 58, Fig. 1, the specific character of which is immaterial further than that it must be capable of engaging and retaining a mail pouch. Each car carries also a pair of arms equipped with mail-pouch suspending and releasing means 71 adapted to pass respectively above and below the projecting porof the plate 14 constitutes a track for the r roller 25 of the spring latch mechanism hereinbefore referred to, and is provided with a niche or recess 25 near each of its ends.

To the front bar of the plate 14, at each side thereof, is hinged a door 26 actuated by a spring 27 to hold it in a normally horizontal position, each door covering the bottom of its respective compartment and preventing rain or snow (in quantity) getting into the lower casing.

Each disk of the plates 6, 8, 13 and 14 is apertured for the reception of the crankstandard or shaft 7. Said shaft is fixed with relation to the drum-disks and reciprocatory with relation to those of the frame. At its bottom it is provided with a bent arm 28 to the depending end of which is pivoted the rod 29 of a piston 30 constituting a part of any suitable fluid compressor 31. This compressor is hinged at 32 to the frame-plate 6, or elsewhere if preferred.

33 indicates a spring-latch mechanism comprising a slotted base-plate 34 bolted to the under side of the frame plate 8 (or elsewhere if preferred) and provided with a longitudinal central aperture which receives a rod 35 about which a spring 37 is coiled. Integral with the rod 35 and resting normally within the way 38 (Fig. 6,) free to reciprocate therein and in the base plate 8, is the horizontal portion of an invertedT shaped guide 59, the vertical portion or stem of which is reciprocable within the slot 9 in the plate 1.4. Near its inner end the guide stem carries a rising stub 39 on which is mounted a roller 40 which corresponds to the beveled bolt of a spring door-latch. Its functions will presently be described.

tion of the mail pouch receiver.

1 he 0 )eration: Presuming the parts to be in the relative positions shown at Figs. 1 and 1*, a train approaching in the direction of the arrow at Fig. 1, and a mail poucl suspended between the. means 71; when said pouch reaches a point in line with the edge of the receiver opening it will be forcibly released by the contact of the upper and lower edges of that compartment thereof which is in position for the reception thereof against the suspending means, whereupon it will be violently thrown against the curved rear portion of said, compartment and the curve of which it follows until it falls by gravity onto the door 26, and overcoming the resistance of the spring will drop into the casing below, where it is within convenient reach of the operator but shielded from the elements and beyond the reach of persons not authorized to handle it. '.i he force of the impact of the sack against the casing will overcome the resistance of the spring 37 and the roller will be thrown from the niche 25 which it was occupying, and as the receiver is given the onefourth revolution by said impact said roller will follow the track until it reaches the incurve or detent at the rear portion thereof, whereupon it will be stopped thereby. The movement of the receiver will impart a like one to the standard on which it is fixed, and the crank thereof will actuate the air-compressor in an evident manner to gradually check the movement of said receiver, whereby violent shock thereto because of sudden stoppage is averted. If meferred, rollers or other suitable means may be secured to the upper and lower edges of the respective compartments to prevent mutilation of the pouch or the pouch-sustaining means.

A pouch is sustained between the pouch locks 45, 51 as shown at Fig. 1., (rings firmly fixed to the pouch being preferably employed,) with the levers in confronting positions, whereby it will be locked against accidental displacement in the registering open- Radiating from aT fixed by a set-screw 41 ings in the disks and brackets, at the rear to the upper end of the standard 7 are arms ends of the slots therein. Upon the carcrane striking the pouch the latter will be doubled upon itself over said crane, and the force of the impact will throw the levers (see Fig. 3,) into such positions that the slots I will be brought to coincide and permit the The term. semidrum herein used is intended to designate any receiver having a rotary, part-rotary, or vibratory movement.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following, to-wit:-

1. In a device of the character described, a base, a standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiving semi-drum fixed on said standard above said base, and doors in said semi-drum. communicating with said base.

2. In a device of the character described, a base, a standard rotatably mounted therein, and a pouch-receiving semi-drum provided with a plurality of compartments fixed on said. standard above said base, there being means of conmiunication between saidv drum and base.

In a device of the character described, a skeleton top, a base, a standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on said standard above said base, s i )ring-actuated means of communication between said base and pouch-receiver, and means inter posed between said standard and receiver for means for releasably sustaining said pouch releasably holding a mail-pouch.

4. In a device of the character described, a base, a standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on said standard above said base, adapted to receive a partrevolution from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car, and means for releasably sustaining a pouch within said. receiver and delivering it to said base.

5. In a device of the character described,

.a base, a crank-standard rotatably mounted thereon, a pouch-receiving semi-drum fixed on said standard above said base and adapted to receive a part-revolution from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car, and means for releasably sustaining a pouch within said receiver and delivering it to said base, and means for gradually retarding the movement of the semi-drum after such impact.

6. In a device of the character described, a skeleton base, a standard rotatably mounted. therein, a bottomless pouch-receiving semi-drum fixed on said standard above said base and adapted to receive a part-revolufrom a passing train, and means for gradually retarding the movement of the drum after such impact.

7. In a device of the character described, a base, a crank-standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on said. standard above said base and adapted to receive a part-revolution from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car, and an air compressor actuated by said cranlcstandard and adapted to check the movement of the drum after such impact.

8. In a device of the character described, a base, a crank-standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on said standard above said base and adapted to receive a part-revolution from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car, an air compressor actuated by said crankstandard and adapted to check the movement of the drum after such impact, and a spring latch mechanism for stopping the drum at predetermined positions.

9. In a device of the characterdescribed, a base, a standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on the standard above the base and adapted to receive motion from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car and to catch said pouch, means for releasably sustaining said pouch within said receiver and delivering it to saidv base, and means for releasably suspending another pouch.

10. In a device of the character described, a base, a standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on the standard above the base and adapted to receive motion from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car and to catch said pouch,

within said receiver and delivering it to said base, means for checking the movement of the receiver after such impact, and means for releasably suspending another pouch.

1.1. In a device of the character described, a base, a crank standard rotatably mounted therein, a plural-compartment pouch-1e ceiver fixed on the standard above the base and adapted to receive motion from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car and to catch said pouch, a s :)ring-actuated door between each of said compartments and said base, and an air-compressor actuated. by said standard and adapted to retard the movement of said receiver after the impact aforesaid.

12. In a device of the character described, a base, a crank-standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on said stand ard above said base, adapted to receive moi tion from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car and to catch said pouch, means actuated by said standard and adapted to retard the movement of said receiver tion from the impact of a pouch delivered after the aforesaid impact, and a spring latch mechanism for stopping the drum at ed to receive movement from the impact of predetermined positions.

13. In a device of the character described, a skeleton base, a standard rotatably mounted therein, a plural-compartment pouchreceiver including a skeleton bottom fixed on said standard above said base and adapted to receive a part revolution from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car, a spring-actuated door adapted to normally close the opening in the bottom of each of said compartments, and means for gradually checking the movement of the receiver after such impact.

14. In a device of the character described, a base, a crank-standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on said standard above said base, it being adapted to receive motion from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car and to receive said pouch, and a fluid compressor actuated by said standard and adapted to check the movement of said receiver after such impact.

1.5. In a device of the character described, a base, a crank-standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on said standard above said base, it being adapted to receive motion from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car, and:

further adapted to receive said pouch, a, l'luid-compressor actuated by said standard 3 and adapted to retard the movement of said receiver after such impact, and means for 1 stopping the receiver at predetermined positions.

16. In a device of the character described, plural compartments, means on and with which they are rotatably mounted, said compartments constituting a receiver adapted to receive movement from the impact ol a pouch delivered from a passing car, and means for gradually retarding such movement after such impact 17. In a device of the character described, plural compartments, means on and with which they are rotatably mounted, said compartments constituting a receiver ad apta pouch delivered from a passing car, means for gradually retarding such movement after.

such impact, and means for stopping said recelver at predetermlned posltlons.

18. In a device of the character described,

plural compartments, means on and with which they are rotatably mounted, said compartments constituting a receiver adapted to receive movement from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car, means for gradually retarding such movement after such impact, and a latch mechanismlor limiting the extent of movement of said receiver.

19. In a device of the character described, a base, a standard rotatably mounted therein, a pouch-receiver fixed on said standard above said base and adapted to receive a part-revolution from the impact of a pouch delivered from a passing car, arms projecting radially from the upper portion of said standard, pouch-engaging and releasing means carried at the outer ends of said arms, and like means carried by the pouch-receiver.

20. In a device of the character described, a base, a crank-standard rotatably mounted. therein, a semi-drum-like pouch-receiver fixed on said standard above said base, the periphery of its base constituting a track provided with notches near its ends and an incurve at its rear central portion, a springlatch mechanism including a roller adapted to traverse said track, to engage said notches and incurve, trip mechanism carried by said receiver to engage one end of a mailpouch, an arm projecting radially from the upper end of said standard, and trip mechanism carried thereby for engaging the other end of said pouch.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name in presence of two witnesses, at Galesburg, Illinois, this fourth day of March, 1909.

JACOB E. DIEFENDERFEI "itnesses:

W. A. WEBs'rER, HERBERT L. MILLER. 

